ViclencebyForcesoftheCrown
JudgeBodkin'sReport
ThefulltextofthereportmadebyJudge13odkinontheviolence andburningdonebyCrownforces:nCo.Clarehasbeeppublishedin theafaneheste:Guardian.
JudgeBodkinsaysitwasprovedbeforehimthatcriminal'njuries weredonebyCrownforcesin139casesandthecompensationawarded was£137,046. Headdsthatinnoneofthecaseswasthereanyevidencethatthe victimshadbeenguiltyofanyoffences,andinalargenumberofcases womenandchildrenweretreatedwithgreatviolence. Complaint'Unheeded.
Dealingwithspecificcases,judge Bodkinsays:-
Itwasprovedthatonthenight ofSept.22thetownofLahinchwas attackedbyalargebodyofarmed forcesoftheGovernment.Rifle shotswerefiredapparentlyatrandominthestreetsandaverylarge numberofhousesandshopswere brokeninto,setonfire,andtheir contentslootedordestroyed.The inhabitants,mostofthemintheir nightclothes-men,women,andchildren,invalids,oldpeopleoverSO, andchildreninarms-werecompelledatamoment'snoticeandatperil oftheirlivestoflythroughback lootsand'windowstothesandnills intheneighbourhoodofthetown, wheretheyremainedduringthe night.returninginthemorningto findtheirhomescompletelydestroyed.Inthecourseoftheattacka mannamedJosephSammonwas shotdead.
MenShotatInnistymon.
Onthesamenightthetownet Ennistyrnonwassimilarlyinvaded bythearmedforcesoftheGovernment.TheTownHallandalarge numberofhousesandshopswere brokeninto,setonfireand,with theircontents,destroyed.AsinLahinch,theinhabitantswerecompelledtoflyfortheirlives.Ayoung marriedmattnamedConolewas seizedinthestreetbyapartyof menundercommandofanoffcer. Hiswife,whowaswithhim,pleaded onherkneeswiththeofficer 'forthelifeofherhusbandsbuthe wastakenawayashortdistance. shot,andhischarredremainswere foundnextmorninginhisown house,whichhadbeenbunit.AnotheryoungmannamedLinnanewasshotdeadinthestreetswhile attemptingtoextinguishtheflames.
MurderatMiltown-Malbay.
OnthesamenightMaltown-Malbaywassimilarlyinvadedbythe armedforcesoftheGovernment..t largenumberofhousesandshops werebrokeninto,setonare,and destroyed,theinhabitantsescaping withdifficultyanddaeger.Anold womannamedLynchprovedthat duringthecourseofthisraid,just beforetheburningofherhouse,her husband(anoldmanof75),while standingbesideherattheirown doorway,wasshotdeadbyasoldier inuniform,distantabouttenyards. Shemadenoclaimforthemurder ofherhusband.Iawarded£144 forthedestructionofherhomeand property. AfarmernamedDanielEganappliedforcompensationfortheallegedmurderofhisson.Itwas provedthatanumberofmenarrestedhissonandthreeothermen athisresidence,boundthemwith ropes,andcarriedthemawayina boat.Thenextthatthefather heardofhissonwasatelegram fromthepoliceinforminghimthat hehadbeenshoton'thebridgeat Killaloe,anddirectinghimtocome toKillaloeforthecorpse.Ongoing totliepolicestationhefoundhis sondeadbodyinacoffin.There wasanumberofmilitaryandpolice present,buttheonly-oneheknew wasDistrict-InspectorGwynne.I allowedthecasetostandforaweek fortheproductionoftheD.I.,and theD.I.didnotappear,andIadjournedthecasetonextsessions.
Mrs.af'Donnell,ofKielty,Tomgranny,claimedcompensationfor theburningofherhouse,furniture, andotherproperty.MissBridget M'Donnell,daughteroftheapplicant,provedthebuntingofthepropertyandtheharshtreatmentto whichsheandhermotherandsister hadbeensubjectedbytheraiders. The.house,sheswore,hadbeenpre viouslyraidedandsearchedonseveralcocasionsbyAuxiliaryforce; underthecommandofofficers.On thenightoftheburningsherecognisedtwooftheAuxiliarieswhohad beenthereonpreviousoccasions. ShewenttotheLakesideHotel, Kilialoe,tocomplaintoCcl.An. drews,incommandoftheAuxiliarie attheirheadquartersthere.While shewasspeakingtotheColonelshe recognise,:oneofthemenshehad seenattheburning,andrequested thatthemenshouldbeparadedfor identificarPonafterhavingpointed outthemanshehadrecognised.The Colonelmadenoteply,andtfiemen werenotparaded. IntheNatureofReprisals.
Infourothercases,afterproofof theburningofhouses,hay,and otherpropertybytheGovernment forces,militaryofficersattendedin Court,andprovedthatthehouses, etc.,hadbeenburned-bythemilitary intwoofthecasesbytheexpressdirectionoftheofficerincommand,andintheothertwobythe verbalauthorityof.thecompetent militaryauthority.Therewasno evidenceorsuggestionthatanyof theoccupantsofthehousesorthe ownersofthepropertyhadbeen guiltyofanyoffence. ItwasarguedbyMr.Cullinan, CrownSolicitor,thatthe,Privy CouncildecisioninthecaseofMarais duringtheBoerWaroustedmy jurisdiction.Iheldthatmartial lawnothavingbeenproclaimed,me jurisdictionwasnotousted,and thattheauthorityofthemilitary waslimitedbytheR.O.I.Regulations. Ifoundonthefactsthatthe buntingswereinthenatureofreprisals,andIdecidedthat"theordinaryavocationsoflifeandtheenjoymentofpropertyhadbeen interferedwith"andthattheseburningswerenotnecessaryoratallcalculatedtosecurethemaintenance orrestorationoflawinIreland. VioljotMethods. OnNovember1araidwasmade villageofO'Brien'sBridgeby thearmedforcesoftheCrown.A largenumberoftheinhabitants,incloningwomenandchildren,were treatedwithgreatviolenceandtheir houseswiththecontentsburned. 0.1October7thetownofFeakle wassimilarlyinvadedbythearmed forcesoftheGovernment.During theprogressofthisraidapostman waswoundedin
LimerickHorrified ANight'sTragicOutrage
MayorandEx-MayorofCity SlainintheirHome
WifeofEachWounded
Irelandandtheworldstandappalledattheawfuldoingswhich deprivedLimerickcityofhertwomostprominentcitizens.Mayor Clancyandex-MayorO'Callaghan,intheearlymorninghoursof Monday,March7th.
InbothcasesthefateofLordMayorMacCurtainwasrecalledin everydetail,butinthepresentcasesthebrutalityofthedeedswas muchmorepronounced,bothMayorandex-Mayorbeingriddledwith bulletsafterreceivingtheirdeath-woundsandastheylayproneonthe floorswheretheyfellInthesecases.too,theMayor'swifewasshotinthearm,while Mrs.O'Callaghanwasbadlymaltreatedtohereffortstosave141-husband,beingeventuallythrownheavilytothefloorbesideherdying husband,whereshewasfoundbyamaid.Botbladiesbehavedwith theutmostheroism.
Toaddtothenight'shorrorstherehastoberecordedalsothata youngmannamedO'Donoghue,aprominentGaelicLeaguer,belonging toRathduif.Westmeath,wastakenfromhisresidenceandriddledwith bulletsashortdistanceaway.
Thefollowingrep.atefthisdiabolical°unmet.istaken(remthe IrishIndependentelMatch7th.
last:-CAUSEOFTHECRIMES.
Mr.O'Callaghan'sDeathWife's Heroism.
RegardingthecauseoftheshootingofLimerick'smostprominent citizensinamannerexactlyparallel tothemannerinwhichLordMayor MacCurtainmethisdeathinCork, almostasearago,thecauseofthe crimenowisexcitingkeenspeculation."
Whilesomepeopleregarditasa reprisalforCorkCommandantCumming'sdeath,itisgenerallybelieved inLimerick,whichhasbeenso peacefulforsometime,saysour correspondenttherethatthedeeds inLimerickarethereplytoLord ChiefJusticeMolony'saddressto theGrandJurylastweek.
TheLORDCHIEFJUSTICE thensaidthathewasinformedthat thatgreaterforceswereatworkin thecity,inpreservingitsfair fame,thantheforcesoftheCrown -theforcesofChristianity. Proceeding,hestatedthatthe mostpotentfactor,hewastold,of preservingpeacewastheConfraternityoftheHolyFamily,inwhich 5,000wereenrolled,andcarriedon bytheRedemptoristOrder.That Confraternityexercisedamostbeneficialinfluenceonthelifeofthe city.Thoseremarksweremadelast Thursday,threedayslaterLimerick hasgivenitstollofdead.Thecity flagisathalfmast,andaspecial meetingoftheCorporationhasbeen summoned.
MIDNIGHTMARAUDERS.
ItappearsthatMr.O'Callaghan andhiswife,whoresidedatSt. Margaret's,NorthStrand,retiredto bedonSundaynightat11.30p.m. Twohourslatertheywereawakened byloudknockingatthefrontdoor. Mrs.O'Callaghangotupandwent tothewindowandaskedwhowas there.Shereceivedareply: "Policeandmilitary." Sheaskediftheywereaccompaniedbyanofficer,andthereply was:"Yes,andtwo."
Oneofthepartyoftwoorthree men-whmhadapparentlyscaleda highwall-toldMrs.O'Callaghanto throwndowntrekeyofthegate,in ordertoaeanitothersoftheparty. Thiswastheusualrequestatpreviousreinsontl'ehouse
Mrs.O'Callaghanwentdownstairs. followedbyherlaislland.Onopen-
mgthedoortwomenconk-nted herwiththecollarsoftheircoats turnedt'pandcapsdrawndown overtheireyes.Bothworemotor eoggleswith,tortoiserims,andwere alsowearingwhatlookedlikefalse moustaches.
DEMANDFOR
MR.O'CALLAGHAN.
TheycalledonMr.O'Callaghan tocomeout,andreplyingtohis query."Whatdoyouwant?"replied"Wewantyou."
ARMEDMENRUSHIN.
Mrs.O'Callaghan,whowasstandinginfrontoftheassailantswith extendedarms,exclaimed"No,no!"
Oneofthementhenrushedintothe hallwithrevolverinhandandfired overMrs.O'Callaghan'sshoulderat herhusband,whofellatthefoot ofthestaircaec.Mrs.O'Callaghan, afrail-woman,grappledwithone ofthemen,andinastrugglepulled offhisgoggles. WhileMr.O'Callaghanwaslying prostrateattheendofthestaircase,anotheroftheassailantsrushedinandfiredseveralshotsinto hisbody.whichborethemarksof threeexitwounds.
Mrs.O'Callaghanthenseizedan umbrella,withwhichsheattacked theraiders. Inthestruggleforherhusband's lifeMI:. severalO'Callaghanwasassaulted times,andeventuallywas thrownviolentlyontheflooralongsideherdyinghusband,whereshe wasfoundbythemaid,theonly otheroccupantofthehouse,who wasrousedbytheshots.
Rev.FrPhillip,O.F.M.,andDr. J.Robertswere'phonedforandarrivedinashorttime.Atthat timeCouncillorO'Callaghanwasal. humanaid,butFr. Philipadministeredthelastritesof theChurch.Theex-Mayordiedin avets-shorttimeafterwards.
Asaresultoftheviolenceinflicted onMrs.O'Callaghaninhergallant attempttosaveherhusbandsheis inbedsufferingfrontinjuriestothe hip,sideandhead.
MR.O'DONOGHUE'SFATE.
TakenOut;ShotonRoad.
Withregardtotheshootingof Mr.Thos.O'Donoghue,thecircumstancesshowthathewaslodgingat thehouseofMrs.leyddy.Janesbort'',asuburbofthecity,andhad beenlivingthereforaconsiderable time. OnMondaynight,between11.30 andmidnight,apartyofmasked andarmedmencalledatthehouse. Oneinquirediftherewereany rebels*stayingthere,andbefore Anyonewasabletoansweranother ofthepartyapproachedMr.0' Donoghheandaskedhimhisname. Havinggivenhisname,oneofthe raiderssaid,"Youarethemanwe want." Hisroomwasthensearched,and hewastakenashortdistancefrom thehouseandshotdead. WhenfoundthebodywaspracticallyriddledwithbulletsDeceasedwas,itisstated,amemberoftheSinnFeinorganisation, -andalsotookadeepinterestinthe GaelicLeaguemovement.
MAYORESSINTERVIEWED.
MowtheThreeMenDied. TheMayorreceivedthreebullet woundsintheabdomen,onebeing anentrancewoundontheright front,withanexitwoundinthe side.Alargebulletwoundinthe lowerpartoftheabdomenisbelievedtohavebeenthecauseof death. Ex-MayorO'Callaghanreceived threebulletwounds,twointhe chestandoneintheabdomen. TheboyO'Donoghuereceived10 or12bulletwoundsinthebody, beingliterallyrakedwithfire. Mrs.Clancywaswoundedinthe rightwrist,andapparentlyhadher armroundberhusband,tryingto protecthimwhenshewashit.The bulletwentthroughthebackof thewrist,passingclearbetweenthe wristboneandthearteries,andout infront.
MRS.CLANCY'SORDEAL.
WhenseenbyanIrishIndependentspecialrepresentativeMrs. Clancy,whoboreupwellunderher terribleordeal,saidherhusbandand herselfwereawakenedabout1.30 a.m.byloudknockingattheirdoor. Theygotupandproceededdown theirstairs.herhusbandcarryinga lightedcandle.Whentheygotto thedoorachallengecamefrom outside,andadmittancewasat oncedemanded,"Iopenedthedoor," Mrs.Clancysaid,''andoneofthe partyasked."IsClancyhere?"My husbandrepliedthathisnamewas Clancy.Thethreemenwerewearingfawn.colouredovercoatsand caps,andthemanwhospokehad nopronouncedaccent,butspokein
TOTHEMAYOR'STHEN. BodyRiddledandWifeWounded. Tenminuteslater,about1.40,a partyofmen,statedtobethreein number,calledattheresidenceof Ald.GeorgeClancy,MayorofLimerick,whoresidedatCastleview Garders,Thomondgate,withhis wifeandagedmother-in-law. Inresponsetoloudknockingat thedoor,Mrs.Clancyopenedit,be tieringthatitwasoneoftheusual raidsbyCrownforces.Shewas followedintothehallbyherhusband.and,..y.confrontedbythree menwearinggoggles. TheycalledupontheMayorto comeout,whoaskedwhatthey wantedhimfor.Onesaid:"Never mind,comeout,"andtheMayorreplied,"Iwon'tgoout Oneoftheraiders,producinga revolverandfiringpointblankat theMayor,said."Ifyoudon't,take that."Theshottookeffectinthe stomachandtheMayorfelltothe ground,andanotheroftheattackers,producingarevolver.firedat thepronebodyofthedeceased. TheLadyMayoress,inintervening betweenherhusbandandhisassailants,receivedabulletintheright arm.She,however,grappledwins them.buttheycontinuedfiring shotsatthedyingMayorwhilehe wasstrugglingalongthehallwaytowardsthebackentrance.Herehe wassubsequentlyfoundbyhiswife andaneighbourmoaningandevidentlyingreatagony. InafewminutesCanonO'Driscoil,P.P.,St.Munchin's.arrived andadministeredthelastritesof theChurch.theMayorexpiring soonafterwards. Thepoliceproceededtothehouses andwentformedicalaidandescorteddistractedfriendsofthestricken families
aculturedvoice.Hesaidtomy husband,"Comeouthere,Clancy!" Myhusbandrefusedtomove,and heagainsaid,'Comeouthere.'They thenfiredtheshotsthatkilledhim. Oneofthemencarriedanelectric flashlamp." OnlyonSundaylastthefuneral ofMrs.Clancy'sfather,thelateMr. TimothyKillory,tookplacefrom thehouse. Fivemilitaryofficersvisitedthe housesofthethreedeceasedand viewedthebodies-Itisexpected thatamilitaryinquirywillbeheld ineachcase.Lastnightthere werestrongermilitaryandpolice patrolsatshortintervalsonthe streets. MostRev.Dr.HallinanandVery Rev.CanonO'Driscoll,P.P.,St. Munchin's,visitedthehomesofthe, deadandprayedfortheirrepose. AtthehouseofthelateMayorhis LordshiprecitedtheRosaryin Irish. THETHREEVICTIMS. BiographicalNotes. Theappallingnewsofthemurders.saysourLimerickcorrespon'lent,ofAldermanClancy,Mayor; CouncillorO'Callaghan,ex.Mayor, andThos.O'Donoghuehascauseda profoundshocktoLimerickcitizens. Whenthetragicnewsbecame generally*ownthepeoplewere hormr-etrickens,-somuchsothat theycanscarcelydiscussthegruesomedetails. AldermanClancywasabout40,a manof Irishsplendidphysique,afluent speaker.aswellasofmany foreignlanguages,Inthecauseof Irishfreedomhehastakenapromieentpart,sufferedmanytermsof imprisopmentandundergoneahungerstrike. Hewassenioraldermanforthe city,andwastheunanimouschoice oftheCorporationfortheMayoral chairatthee-nuaryelection.He wasofaveryquietandretiringdis position,andar.,anofpeace. InlifeMayoralspeechhesaidthat duringtheyearofofficehewould prove100percent,wool,andanshrinkable. Withinsixweeksbewasmurdered.Mr.Clancywasaninspectorof theIrishNationalInsuranci.,Company,andwasanIrishteacher.He wasanativeofGrangeandeducatedatMungret,Clongowes,and theoldRoyalUniversityofIreland. Hewasprofessoroflanguagesin LimerickTrainingCollege. THREATENEDWITHDEATH, CoancillorO'Callaghanwasalso agedabout40,andhewastheimmediatepredecessorofAid.Clancyin theMayoralchairofhisnativecity Hewasformanyyearsamember oftheMunicipalCouncilandalways displayedalivelyinterestinciric matters.Hewasamanofoutstartlingal.:titlesandwontheesteemofallclassesofcitizensirrespective..fpolitics. Duringhistermofofficehehad beenthreatenedwithdeathandhe scarcelyeversleptathishome. Hisgrandfather,Ald.EugeneO'Callaghan,wasalsoMayorofLimerickandprobablythefirstCatholic tofillthatoffice. ABIGBUSINESSMAN. CouncillorO'Callaghanwasthe headofthefirmofMessrs.D.O'CallaghanandSons.thefamoustanners,wasbrotherofMr.D.O'Callaghan,solicitor,andofMr.E.O'Callaghan. Hislastappearanceatapublicceremonywas